Chapter 3: So this is what it feels like to be redundant 2
"Jinliang, it's been a long time since we last met. The last time I saw you was two years ago." The girl walked to Wen Jinliang's seat in a familiar manner and sat down, taking my seat so easily.
"The last time I saw you, you didn't have long hair like you do now." Wen Jinliang smiled at the girl and asked in an intimate manner, "Why did you suddenly return to China this time?"
"My grandfather's birthday is coming soon, so my parents called me back." The girl replied with a smile.
"So that's how it is." Wen Jinliang chuckled.
The girl smiled at Wen Jinliang affectionately: "I didn't come back just to attend my grandfather's birthday. The school has approved my transfer application - I just happen to be in the same class as you." After a pause, she asked with a smile on her face, "Would you like to take me to visit the college after school?"
"Of course, there's no need to be polite between us." Wen Jinliang's expression softened a little.
I watched Wen Jinliang talking to the girl as if no one was around, and I suddenly felt uncomfortable. After seeing Wen Jinliang's unstinting tenderness towards the girl, I suddenly felt unhappy, because this tenderness was clearly mine before.
I couldn't help but say to the strange girl: "Classmate, this is my seat."
The girl then noticed me standing next to her. She uttered an "ah" and quickly stood up, looking at me apologetically: "I'm so sorry, I didn't notice that this seat was occupied."
I was a little surprised by the girl's good attitude, and I couldn't blame her for a moment.
"Hello, I'm Shen Xiangxuan." Seeing that I was silent, the girl gave me a polite smile and greeted me.
"Hello, I'm Xiaoqi." I responded politely.
"You are Xiaoqi." Shen Xiangxuan seemed to know me. She looked at me seriously for a few minutes and couldn't stop praising me. "Xiaoqi is so handsome. Jinliang is so lucky to have someone like you by his side to protect him." She said meaningfully.
And I have already understood that she knows that I am Wen Jinliang's bodyguard. It seems that she has a special relationship with Wen Jinliang and the Wen family.
"Xiao Qi, Jin Liang and I have been childhood sweethearts since we were young. Please give me your guidance in the future." Shen Xiangxuan extended her hand to me, with a polite and courteous attitude. She is indeed a very likable girl.
"Well, please give me your guidance..." I held her hand back, but my expression was a little stiff.
"Then I'll find a new seat. Jinliang, see you later." Shen Xiangxuan said as he prepared to find a new seat.
I subconsciously grabbed Shen Xiangxuan and blurted out, "I'll give you my seat." I didn't even understand why I said that, but since the words had already been spoken, I couldn't take them back.
"Hey?" Shen Xiangxuan looked at me in surprise, revealing a somewhat delighted expression, "Is it really possible?"
"Well, this seat is yours from now on." After I said that, I started to tidy up the books on the table, and I didn't even notice that my fingertips were shaking.
Wen Jinliang just watched my actions quietly, with some emotions in his eyes that I didn't understand. Then he smiled as usual and said, "Since Xiaoqi said so, Xiangxuan, you can sit next to me from now on."
After hearing what Wen Jinliang said, I suddenly felt like I had lost all my strength, and the book in my hand fell to the ground with a crash.
"You don't have to rush to tidy up. I can move it over later." Shen Xiangxuan thought I dropped the book on the floor because I was too anxious to tidy up. She quickly squatted down and picked it up. She carefully dusted off the book for me before handing it to me: "Here, your book."
I took the book from her hand, and said in a stiff voice, as if it wasn't my own: "Thank you..."
"I should be the one thanking you. Thank you for giving up your seat to me." Shen Xiangxuan looked at me with a beautiful smile.
I stared at Shen Xiangxuan's beautiful smiling face, and a phrase suddenly popped up in my mind - a talented man and a beautiful woman. Wen Jinliang and she were the best portrayal of this phrase.
I suddenly wanted to laugh, but I held it back. I couldn't let myself look out of control again, it wouldn't be good for either me or Wen Jinliang.
I forced myself to calm down and stop thinking about it.
"Ms. Shen, you are so polite." I clenched the book in my hand and tried to speak as normally as possible. "I'll go to the back first." After saying that, I walked to the last row of empty seats without looking back.
Wen Jinliang and I were seated in the third row from the back, and now I moved to the last row, which put me quite a distance away from him. I didn't speak to him again for the entire day.
After school, Wen Jinliang took Shen Xiangxuan to familiarize herself with the academy as promised. As a bodyguard, I had to follow them. I walked behind them in silence as they chatted with each other, their tone familiar and natural.
I couldn't get involved in their conversation, or maybe they didn't want me to at all.
"Xiao Qi?" Wen Jinliang suddenly called my name, and I looked up to find that he and Shen Xiangxuan were looking at me. It turned out that I had stopped without realizing it...
I was shocked. What happened to me? How can I be Wen Jinliang's bodyguard if this continues? I was distracted while protecting him!
"Xiao Qi, you look terrible. Are you feeling unwell again?" Seeing that I didn't answer, Wen Jinliang walked straight towards me and asked with concern.
I kept a stiff face and took a long time to answer: "I want to go find He... Can I leave you for a short while?"
Wen Jinliang's eyes darkened for a moment, but he readily agreed, "Of course, go ahead. Nothing will happen to me here."
I knew clearly that I couldn't just abandon Wen Jinliang like that, but after getting his answer, I turned around and ran away like a flash, and without stopping for a moment, I arrived at He's residence outside the school.
"He!" I rushed straight into He's room. He was sleeping.
He was in a very bad mood when he woke up. He got up and looked at me with a sullen face: "You'd better have something important to do!"
"Can you find someone to replace me?" I said seriously.
He uttered an "ah", as if he had never expected me to say that. He rubbed his forehead, as if he was having a headache because of what I said.
"I'm serious, it will only take a few days!" My voice trembled a little.
He's face turned completely dark: "Before it was Jin Liang, and now it's you. You two are determined to find something to make trouble for me, right?" This was a sign of his anger.
"If you want to borrow someone, you can do so as long as you beat me." He clenched his palms and smiled.
Oops...the beast is angry.
I swallowed, knowing that I had nowhere to go. But that was fine, I also wanted to find someone to vent to, maybe after venting I would feel less depressed.
"Don't show any mercy." I took off my coat and made a gesture of invitation.
"Xiao Qi, what's wrong with you?" Shen Xiangxuan looked at me in surprise.
I walked back to the apartment with wounds all over my body, and unexpectedly, I saw Shen Xiangxuan when I opened the door. She was drinking tea and talking with Wen Jinliang. When she saw me coming back, she was about to say hello to me, but when she saw my wounds, she couldn't help but screamed.
I ignored Shen Xiangxuan because I was too tired. The fight with He had exhausted me and I just wanted to lie down on the bed and have a good sleep.
"Xiao Qi?" Wen Jinliang stood up quickly and walked towards me. He helped me to the sofa in a panic, "What happened to your injuries?" His expression was very serious and a little scary.
"It was Crane who shot me." I coughed.
"He?" Wen Jinliang was stunned for a moment, his expression solemn, "What's going on?"
"Nothing... just practicing." I didn't want to say more. Unfortunately, I didn't win, or rather, none of us won.
When I think of He's true strength, I still shudder. He's so strong, I'm afraid only Xiaowu can beat him...
"Xiao Qi, let me bandage your wound first." Shen Xiangxuan took the medicine box and sat next to me, applying medicine to me gently, "Mr. He is really a jerk. How can he be so harsh on a girl? Look, there are bruises on her face. What if it leaves scars?" Then she looked up at Wen Jinliang and said, "Jinliang, you must give He a good talk next time you see him! Xiao Qi is a girl after all."
Wen Jinliang said "hmm", took out his cell phone and walked to the balcony of the living room, looking like he was ready to ask He for details.
"Xiaoqi, did I hurt you?" Shen Xiangxuan asked gently while applying medicine on me.
I stared at Shen Xiangxuan blankly, not saying anything for a while. The moment I saw her when I walked in, I felt uncomfortable, but now seeing her being so gentle to me, I suddenly felt that I was really going too far. I shouldn't feel uncomfortable with her presence.
The girl in front of me is just like Wen Jinliang, she is also a very gentle person... I can't treat her with a weird attitude anymore...
Thinking of this, I thanked Shen Xiangxuan: "Ms. Shen...thank you for applying the medicine for me."
Shen Xiangxuan smiled nonchalantly and said, "Just call me Xiangxuan."
"Xiang Xuan..." I called her name somewhat uncomfortably.
Shen Xiangxuan's eyes lit up instantly. She took my hand and asked expectantly, "Can I be your good friend?"
"Good friend?" I was stunned, but seeing her expectant look, I couldn't bear to refuse, "Of course."
"That's great." Shen Xiangxuan hugged me happily.
I was held in Shen Xiangxuan's arms in a daze, and her arms were so warm. Wen Jinliang had also held me like this before, but unfortunately I can no longer feel it. I smiled bitterly in my heart.
Wen Jinliang came back after finishing his phone call. His expression was very calm. I didn’t know what he said to He, but I felt a little uneasy inside.
"Xiangxuan, it's getting late, you should go back first." Wen Jinliang said to Shen Xiangxuan.
"Okay, see you tomorrow." Shen Xiangxuan packed up her medicine box and stood up to leave. Before leaving, she also reminded me to keep water out of my wound.
"Um..." I stood up from the sofa, "I'm going to rest first... Good night." Without waiting for Wen Jinliang to answer, I ran into the room as if I was escaping.
My heart was beating fast, and I was worried that Wen Jinliang would suddenly rush in, but he didn't come in. There was a moment of silence outside the house, and then I heard Wen Jinliang's gentle voice: "Xiaoqi, good night."
The next morning, I woke up with dark circles under my eyes. It was the first time in my life that I suffered from insomnia.
"Xiao Qi, you have dark circles under your eyes. Did you have trouble sleeping because of the pain from your wound last night?"
The next day, Shen Xiangxuan came to find us for class, and the usual two-person group turned into a three-person group.
"No, it's just..."
I stopped abruptly in the middle of my speech and couldn't finish.
"Just what?" Shen Xiangxuan looked at me curiously.
"Nothing." I shook my head.
Shen Xiangxuan saw that I didn't want to talk, so of course she didn't continue asking me. She turned her head and talked to Wen Jinliang beside her: "Jinliang, let me tell you..." She chattered about some childhood events, and Wen Jinliang smiled and talked to her gently as always.
I walked silently beside the two people, listening to them talk about the world I had never stepped into.
I silently kept two steps away from them and stopped walking side by side with them. Wen Jinliang noticed my action, he glanced at me but said nothing.
Maybe, he also hopes that I will do this; maybe, he likes Shen Xiangxuan, so he doesn't want me to interfere in their world of two people... maybe...
So, this is what being redundant feels like...
Because I am Wen Jinliang's bodyguard, Shen Xiangxuan has always been polite to me, and now that we are friends, she is even nicer to me.
Shen Xiangxuan always liked to stand between Wen Jinliang and me. She spent most of her time chatting with Wen Jinliang, and occasionally she would say a few words to me. But more often, I just listened to the two of them talking silently.
At times like this, Wen Jinliang and I would not talk. As long as Shen Xiangxuan was around, we would hardly talk. And because of her presence, I found that the alienation between Wen Jinliang and I was truly reflected...
Shen Xiangxuan also has a hobby, which is to take Wen Jinliang and me out to eat. But most of the time she only takes me. In her words, it is not appropriate to take boys to a dessert shop.
Yes, she and I both love desserts. We go shopping and eat together like ordinary friends. But there are not many such opportunities because I am also responsible for protecting Wen Jinliang.
Wen Jinliang happened to go to He today for something, and he was absolutely safe next to He. So Shen Xiangxuan took the opportunity to take me to a dessert shop outside the school to try it out.
"I heard this newly opened dessert shop is pretty good." Shen Xiangxuan and I walked into the store together, smiling and saying to me. Our entry attracted a lot of attention, and I'm used to it. After all, Shen Xiangxuan is a very beautiful girl, and there are always a lot of eyes on her...
The dessert house is decorated in warm pink tones and is delicately and elegantly decorated. The whole room is filled with a sweet smell that makes people drool unconsciously.
Shen Xiangxuan and I found a seat by the window, and after ordering dessert, she started chatting with me.
"Xiao Qi, do you know? I have liked Jin Liang for a long time."
Shen Xiangxuan held her chin up and smiled at me. Her tone was so calm, as if she was talking about what to eat today.
I didn't say anything, nor did I show any surprise. I already knew that she liked Wen Jinliang when she first appeared in front of me. Because the way she looked at Wen Jinliang was the same as that of the other girls, and the love in her eyes was even stronger.
"The first time I met Jin Liang was at his birthday party. At that time, my family's business was not as big as it is now, and compared to many guests at the party, our family was much poorer. So, of course, I was bullied by those children from rich and powerful families. But at that time, Jin Liang appeared in front of me like a prince and helped me, and from that moment on I knew that I was hopelessly in love with him." Shen Xiangxuan was immersed in beautiful memories, with a gentle smile in his eyes.
"Xiao Qi, do you think he will like me as much as I like him?" Shen Xiangxuan looked at me without blinking.
At that moment, my heart was hit hard by something. I clenched my fist unconsciously, and my voice was so cold that it seemed not my own: "Yes. He will."
"Oh, really? I'm so glad. Thank you, Xiao Qi."
After getting my reply, Shen Xiangxuan immediately smiled brightly, as if she had been waiting for my answer.
